Max Raptor have been a force of political influence for the past five years in the British underground scene. It’s been a fair amount of time since 2013’s ‘Mother’s Ruin’ was released, and it never really got the attention it deserved. Luckily, ‘Damage Appreciation’ fills in all the gaps and makes the two years of waiting all worth it.
This is the most punk Max Raptor have ever been in terms of talking about what they’re pissed off with and making a strong case. ‘England Breathes’ and ‘Breakers’ were both singles that represented the working-class patriotism that the band are so well known for investing themselves in but it all fell flat in listening terms. ‘Damage Appreciation’ is exactly where the band need to be right now.
The opener and title-track is without a doubt the best single the band have released since ‘The King Is Dead’. Harking back to their anthemic roots based on minimalistic riff-heavy hooks, this track is going to be the song that steals back the attention of the punk scene. A song that focusses on the growingly lethargic British populace that start off stuck in the ditch and refuse to be helped by anyone but themselves, the song is as catchy as punk gets and fits perfectly into Max Raptors growing arsenal.
‘Population’ and ‘Blue On Red’ are songs that make obvious nods to the further roots of punk. Both have Anti Flag-style hooked choruses with gang vocals aplenty. What makes these song special is guitarist Ben Winnington’s ode to Laurent Barnard’s hardcore-style. Organic shifting between chugged rhythm and blues-influenced licks is something Max Raptor have dabbled with in the past but pulled off exquisitely right here.
In what feels like far too short an E.P. ‘See Me Through’ caps things off in crowd-pleasing style. Revolving around a vicious riff reminiscent of Architects’ heavy style of playing, the song stirs up an adrenaline in your bones. The big finale doesn’t hit as hard as you want it to but it hits hard enough.
‘Damage Appreciation’ is what we’ve all been waiting for. This is the second form of Max Raptor and twice as impressive and deadly as the last. It’s going to be a hell of a year for the guys, that’s for sure.
MAX GAYLER